Globally, 80% of people with hearing loss live in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC’s), but have poor access to hearing aids and a trained Audiologist. Led by Dr John Newall, Associate Professor Piers Dawes and Dr Rebecca Kim, this project will provide information on the hearing needs and test the benefits of low-cost pre-programmed hearing aids for people in LMIC countries.
Advances such as hearing self-testing on mobile devices, low-cost diagnostic equipment, automated processes for characterising hearing loss and ear disease, telehealth, self-fitting, and low-cost pre-programmed hearing aids all offer the potential to increase access to help for hearing loss in LMICs.
To deliver this project, Macquarie University researchers will work with a Global Hearing Co-operative network across 16 LMICs, including Cambodia, China, Dominican Republic, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malawi, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Russian Federation, Samoa, South Africa, Thailand, and Turkey.